Wellington hooker linked to Melbourne Rebels

Wellington Lions hooker Ged Robinson is being linked with new Super 15 rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels.

A report in The Australian newspaper said Robinson, 27, was being chased by Melbourne because of a serious back injury to Wallabies hooker Adam Freier, who may have to undergo a second operation.

The report said the Rebels had failed in bids to sign South Africans Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss and had set their sights on Robinson.

"We are in discussions with him," Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen said. "Mark Bakewell [Rebels forwards coach] is aware of him. He is a good player. We'd like to have him if he is available."

Robinson has a brother in Melbourne and confirmed that talks with Melbourne had taken place.

"I'm talking to them, but that is as far as it's got," he said. "I'm trying to keep my options open but also concentrate on the job at hand (playing for Wellington in the ITM Cup), so that's where things are at."

A contract with the Hurricanes is probably unlikely given the presence of Andrew Hore and Dane Coles.

- © Fairfax NZ News